After losing Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency, the New York Knicks are exploring the trade market for a replacement, with Wendell Carter Jr. emerging as a potential target.
Acquiring Carter Jr., who has two years left on his $50 million contract, wouldn’t be straightforward. The Knicks might need to involve a third team to facilitate the trade with the Orlando Magic.
Trade proposal:
– **Charlotte receives**: Mitchell Robinson, 2026 second-round pick (via ORL)
– **New York receives**: Carter Jr., Nick Richards
– **Orlando receives**: Cody Martin, Miles McBride
Carter Jr. is a six-year veteran with a career 33% three-point shooting average. Last season, he averaged 11 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in 55 regular-season appearances.
Charlotte, one of the few remaining teams with cap space, would receive Robinson, under contract through 2026, and a valuable second-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets.
For the Magic, acquiring another backcourt player is crucial if Markelle Fultz doesn’t return. Fultz, who started 18 games for Orlando last season, is an unrestricted free agent likely to depart. McBride, after a breakout season where he averaged 8.3 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in 68 games, is seen as one of the best contracts in the NBA.
New York needs to replace Hartenstein and has shown interest in Richards. Carter Jr.’s shooting ability would fit well in five-out lineups, helping the Knicks match the pace of contenders like the Boston Celtics.
Orlando has a surplus of centers, having re-signed Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner, and extended forward Jonathan Isaac. Carter Jr. has played 62, 57, and 55 games in three seasons with Orlando, showing productivity when healthy. However, if they intend to give Bitadze, Isaac, or Wagner a full-time starting role, they might consider trading Carter Jr.
With Carter Jr. on the floor, the Magic outscored opponents by 1.8 points per 100 possessions, but without him, this number increased to 2.7 points. Franchise cornerstone Paolo Banchero, who played only 7% of his minutes at center last season, could see more time there, given Orlando’s defensive success in those lineups.
Banchero and Carter Jr. together were outscored by 0.2 points per 100 possessions, suggesting a non-fit for the Magic’s best player and their starting center. Optimizing the roster around Banchero might mean parting with Carter Jr.
McBride’s role next season is uncertain. Following a strong summer league, Tyler Kolek is expected to take over as the Knicks’ backup point guard, according to SNY’s Ian Begley. Kolek’s promotion would require some flexibility from head coach Tom Thibodeau, potentially affecting McBride’s rotation minutes.
McBride played 60% of his minutes at point guard last season. With former starter Donte DiVincenzo moving to the bench after the Mikal Bridges trade, McBride could become the odd man out. Trading him for center help shouldn’t be ruled out for New York.
